Chapter 235: Connections In High Places
Chapter 235: Connections In High Places
Just like in all urban superhero movies, after everything was settled, the sound of police sirens could be heard in the distance.
Chu Ge turned the battered off-road vehicle around and couldn’t help but think that the delayed arrival of the police might have been coordinated with Zhong Yi. Otherwise, there were undercover cops in the hospital earlier, but now that they had relocated, there was a high chance it was deliberate to facilitate their actions…
When he saw the leader, Chu Ge became even more convinced of his suspicion.
Because the leader turned out to be Gu Ruoyan.
“President Gu, why is it you?” Chu Ge asked in surprise, “Aren’t you an official in the capital?”
“I frequently need to travel to different places. I just arrived in Shanghai a couple of days ago… This matter just happened to coincide.” Gu Ruoyan looked at the shattered windshield and the mangled driver’s headrest of the broken Haval vehicle, a hint of meaning in her eyes. “You were attacked outside?”
Chu Ge chuckled, “Yeah, it was a really wicked attack. Luckily, I ran fast. Made in China is truly the best.”
Zhong Yi’s cheek twitched.
My car…
Gu Ruoyan looked deeply at Chu Ge but didn’t inquire further. She simply extended her hand in a handshake gesture, “This matter might involve some foreign affairs and could be related to certain cases that have been under investigation in the capital. So, I’ll temporarily take charge.”
It felt a bit like using connections to get things done. Chu Ge’s battle and the potential casualties occuring, he didn’t know if Gu Ruoyan would be concerned about them. But looking at her attitude, it seemed she wouldn’t delve deep into it.
This is what they mean by having connections in high places, making things smoother? Chu Ge looked down at the hand she offered, his expression conflicted.
Anyone else standing here wouldn’t have this effect, but this person was Gu Ruoyan. She was the only woman who had even the slightest connection to Chu Ge in Qiu Wuji’s mind, and she helped Chu Ge get away with it without probing…
Even if, in the eyes of Chu Ge and Gu Ruoyan, they had virtually no connection at all, it was self-evident that this was a result of parental connections…
Chu Ge hesitated but shook her hand in the end, “Um, the situation here was mainly orchestrated by Zhong Yi, I was just helping out. Why tell me so much? You should be coordinating with Brother Zhong…”
The light touch of the handshake seemed like normal etiquette to others, but who knew that this guy was feeling like he had walked through a knife-edged mountain range.
Gu Ruoyan didn’t overthink it either, simply saying, “Mr. Zhong has been in contact with us regarding this matter, but when the situation escalated, he distanced himself…”
She paused, a trace of mocking smile appearing, “In Mr. Zhong’s eyes, the police are useful when it comes to protecting people, but when they might obstruct his plan to commit murder, they become a hindrance.”
Zhong Yi smiled faintly, accepting this assessment without arguing. He only said, “Ultimately, we are trying to save lives.”
Gu Ruoyan didn’t expose Zhong Yi’s true intention to kill, evidently not believing that normal procedures could send either Mi Xiaolin or whoever was behind her to jail. So, she chose her own methods. However, that approach also failed; Mi Xiaolin didn’t stay, and she didn’t even know who was behind her. The other party never even showed up.
Arguing about this matter at this moment was pointless. Gu Ruoyan said in a low voice, “There’s no need to dispute what happened before. At this point, I hope you all can cooperate with me.”
Zhong Yi glanced at Chu Ge and chuckled, “Since Chu Ge is here, of course, we will cooperate with you.”
His implication, of course, referred to Chu Ge’s mother’s connections. However, both Gu Ruoyan and Chu Ge looked uneasy simultaneously upon hearing this, and they spoke in unison, “What connection do I have with him (her)?”
A voice, as if through gritted teeth, emanated from the factory, slowly spelling out, “These two are awake. How long are you two going to be lovey-dovey outside?”
Chu Ge shivered and hurried into the factory.
Gu Ruoyan felt like she had become a sieve for no reason, rolling her eyes helplessly and following suit.
Once inside, they saw Du Lianfeng and Qi Chengtai leaning against a pile of sand, their eyes slightly clouded and confused as they gazed at Qiu Wuji’s stern face. At first, there was bewilderment, which quickly turned into fear.
“Becoming fearful,” Qiu Wuji’s tone was cold, “indicates that their memories are resurfacing. Everything is normal. Chu Ge, we can leave now.”
Chu Ge: “…”
“Still reluctant to leave?” Qiu Wuji continued, “Are we allowed to attend the police investigation? This relationship is really good…”
Chu Ge rubbed his forehead, “Why make a big deal out of it? Let them do the investigation, can’t we conduct our own investigation first?”
Qiu Wuji hummed, “Their souls have been reshaped by me. I know the memories from when they were bed-wetters. Do we really need an investigation?”
Chu Ge winked at her.
Qiu Wuji was taken aback, then shut her mouth.
She realized that Chu Ge was hinting not to reveal too much about her abilities to Gu Ruoyan and the others. Her power to search souls and reconstruct spirits was somewhat outlandish, and it was best not to talk too much about it. She felt a moment of regret, realizing she was getting jealous for no reason. Why did she say so much… It would be best if Gu Ruoyan didn’t hear it clearly. And if she did, it would just be treated as bragging…
Thinking this way, she became delighted in her heart. Chu Ge’s distinction between intimacy and distance was quite obvious! Hehe.
Gu Ruoyan had no idea about Qiu Wuji being possessive in a convoluted way. After sizing up Du Lianfeng and Qi Chengtai for a moment, she also looked slightly astonished. Her mind-reading ability clearly detected the fear and admiration in their hearts. In their eyes, this woman was practically like a deity or an immortal, capable of making them kneel with just a hum.
Was that really necessary? Could this woman be that amazing?
Gu Ruoyan subtly cast a glance at Qiu Wuji, who was puffing out her cheeks in self-regret. She looked quite adorable from any angle.
She cleared her throat a couple of times, withdrew her thoughts, and asked Du Lianfeng, “You should know the current situation, right?”
Du Lianfeng sighed, “Yes, we were vegetative, but we still had a sense… Or you could say we had some auditory perception. We heard what was happening.”
“So, what are your thoughts?”
Du Lianfeng remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, “As long as we can have that bitch Mi Xiaolin and that jackass Lei Jiangyong executed, I’m willing to die alongside them.”
“If you can serve as key witnesses, you won’t die,” Gu Ruoyan said, “Tell me the specifics of what you know right here, so we don’t have to argue about who’s going to conduct the investigation.”
Chu Ge awkwardly turned his head to the side.
Qiu Wuji remained expressionless.
Qi Chengtai sighed softly, “In reality, Zhong Yi also understands our past situation quite well. It’s nothing more than a group of people with supernatural abilities coming together to form an organization. We relied on our unique abilities to earn money through less-than-honorable means. Gradually, we became wealthier and formed a large corporation… Zhong Yi used to run with us before. Later, he felt we weren’t on the same path and parted ways.”
“Actually, our initial intent wasn’t very high. We just wanted to make money… The idea of searching for the source of spiritual energy was simply because spiritual energy is the emerging capital. We wanted to hold it in our hands,” Du Lianfeng said. “With spiritual energy in our grasp, we would control the future. Those who hold this idea aren’t just us; there are many, including the world’s top corporations.”
“The journey to Nanjiang was just one of our initiatives. Before that, we had already taken by force and obtained many veins and ocean resources that seemed to be the sources of spiritual energy… Of course, we eventually found out that it was just a facade. While it’s profitable, it isn’t really a true source of spiritual energy. Nanjiang is a bit of an exception; it made us believe that it was hiding many secrets. When we went to Nanjiang, we had great expectations…”
Chu Ge said, “Let’s put aside the matter of Nanjiang for now and focus on the present situation.”
“The present situation is what I just mentioned—the global corporations,” Du Lianfeng’s withered face gradually showed a trace of resentment. “In recent years, our corporation planned to go public. After multiple rounds of venture capital, the ownership structure has changed from its initial state. Mi Xiaolin is the representative of foreign capital. Initially, we didn’t take a little vixen like her seriously. So what if there’s foreign capital involved? Playing around with a little slut like her should have been easy.”
Qi Chengtai added, “As expected, she didn’t possess any significant skills. She only knew how to sleep with people and used that to form cliques. But none of us expected that such a cheap and tacky method would work so well. This woman, who is as lowly and unrefined as they come, managed to sleep with how many of our brothers. Who knows how many connections have been established within the corporation? The decision-making of the corporation has been heavily influenced. Sometimes we don’t even know if the corporation truly belongs to us or is under the control of some foreign capital.”
“When we went to Nanjiang, we also had the intention of starting our own ventures there, but that’s a different matter,” Du Lianfeng added. “Speaking of which, I don’t know if you all remember… When the Nanjiang’s Wang family fell due to their drug involvement, the people who used to supply them, like Iron Anvil, didn’t leave when they should have. Instead, they hid along the coast, seemingly waiting for someone. Ultimately, you apprehended them… They were waiting for Mi Xiaolin.”
“This corporation has become a malignant tumor controlled by foreign forces in secret. Their influence has spread to many places, not just in Shanghai and Nanjiang,” Du Lianfeng concluded.